UK Border Agencies to be Split for Better Management

Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May, flanked by Prime Minister David Cameron (L), and Immigration Minister Damian Green, speaks to parliament in this still image taken from video in London November 7, 2011. May ordered an inquiry on Saturday into the country's border force after suspending several top officials amid media reports that some passport checks were halted last summer.Reuters

After the shocking revelation that hundreds of thousands of people were passing through the UK's borders completely unchecked, Britain's Border Agencies has announced they will split into two for better management.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, made the declaration in a statement to the House of Lords on Monday. According to her announcement, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and the UK Border Force are to cut all ties as the latter needs a complete management revamp.

Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Brian Moore will replace Brodie Clark as the interim Head of the UK Border Force and will have a different outlook concerning law enforcement, compared to the UK Border Agency.

Many of these changes are as a result of last year's passport check blunders that happened under Clarke's supervision, which led to him being suspended from his duties amid allegations of staff carrying out relaxed border checks without ministerial permission.

It was revealed that millions of pounds worth of technology, supposedly bought and installed to improve border security either didn't work or wasn't being used. The security systems designed to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country was lackadaisical, as were those to combat terrorism. Moreover, briefings concerning border security were found to be inaccurate and unsatisfactory, as were many of the practices employed.

Clarke has since resigned and is now suing his former employers for constructive dismissal.

Meanwhile, investigations carried out by the UKBA's John Vine revealed that sweeping changes would need to be made in order to improve the organisation's operations.

May responded to Vine's findings with the following statement: "the extent of the change required is too great for one organisation and that she would be implementing all of Mr. Vine's recommendations with immediate effect."